Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing video review technology.
Replay systems will make its debut at The Championships this year.
Athletes will gain the right to challenge particular decisions made by the official, following the system currently in place at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on Centre Court and Court One throughout the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development comes just a year after the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the 147-year role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the official to review specific situations, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the number of reviews a player can ask for.
Case in Point
A recent case occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't new for Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have the system in place at every one of its tournaments.
Further Updates
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where spectators have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the tournament, organizers have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
